5 Dumplings for $1 at Fried Dumpling

Let’s play William Safire for a moment and ponder the word cheap. I’m not using a dictionary here, but my guess is that cheap is defined as “inexpensive.” Therefore the opposite of cheap, it would seem, is expensive. If you call a woman cheap, it’s an insult. If you call a woman expensive, she’s a prostitute. If you call a prostitute, you’re Charlie Sheen. Wait: where was I?

Welcome to Fried Dumpling:

It is impossible to talk about Fried Dumpling without using the word “cheap.” When Kirk led the lunch revolution again (see previous post) he suggested Fried Dumpling (after our souls were squashed by “Grave of the Fireflies” in our Animation class) saying: “It’s really cheap and the dumplings are pretty good.”

That pretty much sums up Fried Dumpling.

Fried Dumpling is located on Allen Street just south of Delancey. You walk in and this is what you see:

There are three tables to your left and a tiny line up ahead. A Chinese man at the first table slurped his noodles loudly. I knew we were in a good place.

“This is the first time I’ve been here without someone who speaks Chinese,” worried Kirk.

Not a problem. As we approached the counter, I noticed this sign:

I found it amusing and the implication of “cheap” is there which ties in nicely to our theme. Our theme is: “cheap and pretty good.”

At the counter I ordered 5 dumplings ($1) 5 pork buns ($1):

I also ordered this Coconut Drink ($1?) which had 20% of my day’s recommended saturated fat:

And this wonton soup ($1):

As you can see, this is a great deal of food for $4. In fact you might say it was (BUZZER SOUND) cheap. How did it taste? (BUZZER SOUND) Pretty good.

My lunch companions concurred:

“Man this is cheap,” said Dan (on the left).

“And it’s pretty good,” offered Himkar (on the right.)

Kirk held a dumpling aloft to show his pleasure at having chosen such a cheap and pretty good place to eat.